Category: Tutorials

Airplanes zoom all over this baby quilt. I love that it IS NOT paper pieced. Blessings on those of you who love paper piecing, and it definitely has its place in the quilting world, but it is possible to get angles without it. The technique is a little different, so feel free to ask questions, and I will do my best.

FLIGHT PATH
Finished size: 36-1/2″ 36-1/2″

MATERIALS/CUTTING DIRECTIONS

You may note that the block you see assembled below is not anywhere in the quilt. That is because I lost all my block construction pictures and had to make another block just for this tutorial. Good thing it is a fun block to make…

For ONE block–multiply as needed

COLORED fabric–

1 2-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangle

2 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ rectangles

1 4-1/2″ x 2-1/2″–ANGLED to 1-1/2″ (As shown below–it has already been cut on the left and is set up for cutting on the right. You will take 1/2″ off of each side)

BACKGROUND fabric

4 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ rectangles

2 1″ x 1″ squares

2 4-1/2″ x 4″ rectangles ANGLED to 3-1/2″ on one side. (As shown below– 1/2″ off of ONE side. NOTE–both pieces should be facing the same side up when you cut.)

BACKGROUND fabric for “tip” if that is the setting you plan to use.

2 3-1/2″ x 12″ rectangles, cut on the diagonal. Put both pieces face up again. If you want the block to top LEFT, the big part above your ruler should be on the left. Likewise, if you want your block to top RIGHT, the big part above the ruler should be on the right. See below. Yep, this one will tip towards the left.

When you have them all cut, it should look something like this.

CONSTRUCTION

I suggest laying out all of your pieces to make sure you have a good idea of how the block will go together and to make sure all your angles face the right direction.

To build the nose of the airplane: Attach the 1″ background squares to one of the 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ colored rectangles by stitching diagonally. Trim and flip. Press.

Attach a 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ background rectangle to each side of the little unit you just created. Press.

To build the tail section of the plane: Attach a 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ background rectangle to the other 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ colored rectangle. Press.

To build the body of the plane: Attach an angled 4-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ background rectangle to each side of the colored 4-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ angled rectangle. Make sure the widest part of the background pieces attach to the thinnest part of the colored piece. Offset them so the intersection of the seam is 1/4″ from the edge–right where you will sew. It will all end up even in the end. Press.

Attach the three units together–nose to body, body to tail. Press.

IF you are using the tipped section, add those sections top/bottom, left right. I attach the first pair, press open and then trim before adding the second pair. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfectly even. You are going to square up and being a little wonky will add to the flying feeling.

Square up the block to 10-1/2″ making sure there is at least 1/4″ allowance between the edge of the central block and the edge of the trimmed fabric.

For this quilt I created 9 blocks, five of them tipped LEFT and four of them tipped RIGHT. You do what works for you.

NOW, if you want to add borders, as I did, here is the instruction for that–

BORDERS

For the inner border, using background fabric–

2 30–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the sides

2 32–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the top and bottom

for the middle, colored border. I used leftover tiny scraps from the airplanes just joined together in a way that made me happy. You will need to create strips as follows–

2 32–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the sides

2 34–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the top and bottom

For the outer border, using background fabric–

2 34–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the sides
2 36–1/2″ x 1-1/2″ strips for the top and bottom

Attach all around in the order listed…

14. You have a finished quilt top.

15. Layer, quilt, label and bind as desired. I used an overall swooping pattern to give the feeling of flight. Ta-dah! Your quilt is complete.

Thanks for visiting WeddingDressBlue and trying out the tutorials. I love to see what you create.

Like this:

Today is the wrap up for Quilty Name Tag Week. This is the final of five tutorials that have been featured here on Wedding Dress Blue.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing a number of new ideas. Please remember to share the ones you make and the adventures you go on together.

CHECKERBOARD QUILTY NAME TAG

3-3/4″ x 4-1/4″

MATERIALS

15 3/4″x3/4″ squares–various colored fabrics

1 1-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ strip background fabric

1 3-3/4″ x 4-1/4″ fabric for backing

1 3-3/4″ x 4-1/4″ medium to heavy weight interfacing

1 2-1/4″ x 18″ (or longer) strip for binding

CONSTRUCTION

Arrange the 15 1-1/4″ squares in a 3×5 grid.

Assemble. I recommend doing it by rows or columns and “nesting” the seams by pressing them in opposite directions before stitching them to one another. Once the entire unit is assembled, consider pressing the final seams open to reduce bulk.

Attach the 1-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ background piece to the bottom of your checkerboard unit. Layer the top, interfacing and backing.

Stitch in the ditch across the dividing line between the checkerboard and the bottom background piece–just to stabilize.

Bind. I was unable to make a suitable invisible join because of the small scale, so I just folded the edges over near the center of the bottom of the name tag. If you have a better idea, please let me know.

Place a colored strip right side up roughly in the middle of the foundation fabric and on an angle between 45 and 60 degrees.

Add strips, making sure they extend beyond the edges of the foundation fabric until you cover the fabric completely. I usually add two at a time (one on each side) and then press open. It will look like this from the back.

Stitch in the ditch across the dividing line between the strips and the bottom background piece–just to stabilize.

Bind. I was unable to make a suitable invisible join because of the small scale, so I just folded the edges over near the center of the bottom of the name tag. If you have a better idea, please let me know.

Like this:

This is the first of a series of five Quilty Name Tag Tutorials shared here on Wedding Dress Blue.

Remember that you are working SMALL. Accuracy is critical to success. Also, I am not perfect, or perfectly clear. Ask questions and I will try to help and improve.

PINWHEEL QUILTY NAME TAG

3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″

MATERIALS

2 2″ squares–color 1

2 2″ squares–color 2

4 2″ squares background fabric

1 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ strip background fabric

1 3-1/2″x4-1/2″ fabric for backing

1 3-1/2″x4-1/2″ medium to heavy weight interfacing

1 2-1/4″ x 18″ (or longer) strip for binding

CONSTRUCTION

1. Using the colored squares and the background squares, create Half Square Triangles. I like this method–draw a line across the diagonal, stitch on either size, cut along the line. Press Open.

Square up to 1-1/2″. Really. It might only seem like you are trimming off a tiny bit, but tiny bits matter when you are working on this scale.

Lay out each pinwheel. Stitch together. Press.

Attach the 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ strip of background fabric to the bottom. Yep, I know the dark blue one doesn’t meet quite right. I didn’t look so bad when I was building it. It is a little embarrassing now, but I don’t have time to redo it today. We’ll call it a character-building-humility-opportunity.

Layer the top, interfacing and backing.

Stitch in the ditch across the dividing line between the pinwheels and the bottom strip–just to stabilize.

Bind. I was unable to make a suitable invisible join because of the small scale, so I just folded the edges over. If you have a better idea, please let me know.

This was my first attempt at machine binding. Therefore, I am not showing the back of this. Let’s just say it is good that it is the back. BUT, I like how fast it was and handstitching against the interfacing wasn’t working. You could even just hot glue it down, which is what I did to fix a few really bad parts.